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WHAT ARE THEY?

They are common auxiliary verbs used to MODAL VERBS


express the speakers subjective
attitudes and opinions that include : WHEN ARE THEY USED?
POSSIBILITY, IMPOSSIBILITY
We DONT normally use modal verbs to say that a situation
PROBABILITY, NECESSITY (OR LACK OF)
definitely exists. We use them to talk about
OBLIGATION, (OR LACK OF)PERMISSION,
THINGS WHICH WE EXPECT, He may pass his driving test
PROHIBITION ABILITY, INABILITY,
WHICH ARE OR ARE NOT POSSIBLE, What would you do if
DESIRE,
you won the lottery?
WHICH WE THINK ARE NECESSARY, She must tidy up her
room. Its a mess!
HOW ARE THEY USED? WHICH WE WANT TO HAPPEN, I think you ought to see a
They are used before the infinitives of other verbs without the doctor
preposition TO, except OUGHT. WHICH WE ARE NO SURE ABOUT, She could be here in a
They have no S in the 3rd person singular. minute, nobody knows
Questions, negatives, tags and short answers are made WITHOUT WHICH TEND TO HAPPEN, London can be very cold in winter
DO WHICH HAVE NOT HAPPENED. I cant swim. He might have
They dont have infinitives or participles and they dont normally told me he wasnt coming. I think she should have cancelled
have past forms (though WOULD, COULD, SHOULD, and MIGHT can her account.
sometimes be used as the past tense of WILL, CAN, SHALL and MAY.
Other expressions are used when necessary (BE ABLE TO, HAVE TO,
BE ALLOWED TO).
Certain past ideas can be expressed by a MODAL+ PERFECT QUASI-MODAL VERBS. WHAT ARE THEY? They are
INFINITIVE. similar to modal verbs in the English language that express
modality, also referred to as semi-modal verbs, the four quasi-
modal verbs in English are: ought to/ used to / would rather
/had better
HOW MANY ARE THERE?

CAN COULD MAY


PAST ABILITY= to be able to POSSIBILITY
PRESENT ABILITY= to be able to
She could speak perfect Spanish It may rain today.
She can speak perfect Spanish
PAST PERMISSION=be allowed to PRESENT PERMISSION
PRESENT PERMISSION=to be allowed to)
May I go to the cinema?
Can I buy a new video game? I could go out last night.
POLITE SUGGESTION
REQUEST Can you just wait a minute, please? POLITE QUESTION
May I help you?
Could I go to the cinema, please?
OFFER I can lend you the book. PROHIBITION: MAY NOT
POLITE REQUEST
SUGGESTION You may not use my mobile.
Could you just wait a minute, please?
Can we celebrate Christmas abroad?
POLITE OFFER
POSSIBILITY
I could lend you the book.
It can be very hot in winter here. MIGHT
POLITE SUGGESTION
CERTAINTY (negative) POSSIBILITY (less possible than may)
Could we celebrate Christmas abroad
He cant be at home. Its too early It might rain today.
POSSIBILITY
It could get very hot in Montana. OFFER
Might I help you?

MUST SHALL
FORCE, NECESSITY WILL OFFERS
I must go to the supermarket today. REQUEST, DEMAND, ORDER (less Shall I help you with the laundry?
POSSIBILITY polite than would)
You must be tired.
Will you please shut the door?
ADVICE
PREDICTION
WOULD
You must see the new James Bond film. REQUEST (more polite than will)
I think it will rain on Friday.
PROHIBITION: MUST NOT Would you shut the door, please?
PROMISE
You mustnt use my mobile HABITS IN THE PAST
I will stop smoking.
CERTAINTY Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.
SPONTANEOUS DECISION
He must be home by now. He left 2 hour ago
Can somebody drive me to the station?
I will.
HABITS
She's strange, she'll sit for hours without
NEED NOT
SHOULD NOT NECESSARY
ADVICE talking.
I needn't call him. Ive already done it.
You should drive carefully in bad weather.
OBLIGATION
You should switch off the light when you WOULD RATHER (SEMI-MODAL) OUGHT TO (SEMI- MODAL)
leave the room. WISH ADVICE
Id rather leave early tomorrow You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.
OBLIGATION
HAD BETTER. (SEMI - MODAL) HAVE TO (SEMI-MODAL) You ought to switch off the light when you
ADVICE NECESSITY/OBLIGATION leave the room.
You had better leave now LACK OF NECESSITY (PRESENT/PAST/FUT.)
I had to study a lot yesterday.
2. USE HAVE TO, MUST, MUST NOT IN THE CORRECT FORM
1. USE CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO IN THE CORRECT FORM
1. Yesterday I __________________ to get up very early. Im
1. _________________you hear that strange noise? Its so annoying!
so tired now
2. My wife __________________play tennis quite well.
2. She will______________ wait at the queue like everyone else.
3. My brother ________________read when he was three years old. 9. 10.
FILLCOMPLETE
THE GAPS THEWITH SENTENCES USING:
EITHER DON'T/DOESNT CAN/COULD/HAVE
HAVE TO OR
3. Students___________________
IN THE CORRECT FORM. be on time for school.
TO/MUST/MIGHT/SHOULD
MUSTN'T
4. ___________________ you tell me what time it is, please?
4. We
1. Anna!__________________forget
2. Ned:You_________________I
___________________be to invite
borrow soyour Peter
rude!lighter to for
theaparty.
minute?
5. Last night my grandfather _______________walk without any help.
5. You ___________ be careful in this area at night;
2. Tommy! You _____________ do that. It's really disgusting.you want
Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you _______keep Its quite
it if
6. I would like to _________________________play the piano.
dangerous.
3. to.
YouI've given up smoking. be here at six. You can arrive later.
_________________
7. After many tries he______________ get his driving license.
6.
4. You
3. I ________try
_________believe
Ian__________________on a different
she said size.
go tothat This
to
church if dress
Megan! Shedoesnt
he doesn't fit to. have
________
want
8. I'll _____________________________help you later.
you.
5. insulted her cooking in frontdrive
You _________________ of everyone
so fast. at the get
You'll party last night. She
fined.
9. Can you help me? I ___________ understand what hes taking about.
7.
6. The
Helendoctor
_________have __________________get
just said
_________shout atshe here
was fullPeople
everyone. or as
hadare soon
some as he
salad
scared ofifcan.
she
her.
10. Man ____________________________live forever one day?
8. ___________
didn't like the you
meal. _____________ go to school
7. David _________ answer your emails. There's no law about it. next week?
3.CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION. 9.
8. Drivers______________
4. Mrs.
It's OK.Scarlett's body wasremember
You _________________ found in pay to signal
the lounge
now. Iwhen they
justwait.
can turn.ago,
moments
1. You (may/would)________________ leave if you wish. 10 . You
9. and ________________leave
it's still warm! Nobodyforget
You________________ has leftyour
to payclothes
the mansion
the rentallthis
overevening,
the floor
tomorrow so the
2. (Could/May)________________ you open the window a bit, please? like this._________be
10.killer You are so untidy!
You___________ someone
to book thein tickets
this room.forItthe__________be
play in advance.any
3. (May/Can)________________ you play the violin? 11.one
Youof us!!!
_________ wear a tie for the interview. The job is quite
4. You (may not/could not)________________ speak during the exam. 7. _________you
informal. always____________ say the first thing that
5. You (can't/ must not)________________ smoke on the bus. 12.pops
5. into
THEyour
My teacher
FILL head?
told
GAPS me __________
WITH that
HAVEthe TO
book you think
is optional
, MUST once in awhile
.
so I_________
OR SHOULD before
6. (Should/May)________________ I make a call on your mobile? you
Youspeak?
1._________read
_____________ eat want
it if I dont pastato.if you want to lose wait.
7. Do you know if Mark (can/would)________________ come? 2.13.8.You
IfI you
was reading
don't thetobook
want
__________speak last
buyto himnight
those shoes
like before
youHe
that. I is
went
______veryto bed.
buy I never
them.
sensitive.
8. (Can't/May)________________ I sit here, please? 3.14.took
You it out of this
_________________ room. It_________
play with be lying
matches!
Do you ____________chew with your mouth open like that? around
Its here
dangerous
9. You can tell your friends they (can/could)stay the night if they want to. somewhere.
4.it's Imaking
haven't Where_________
meheard from Anna
sick watching for
you itages.
eat be?
thatMaybe I ________
piece of pizza. give
10.I'm sorry but you (can't/may)__________ use the computer now her a ring.
5. You ____________ remember your passport. Otherwise
they won't let you on the plane.
4. FILL THE GAPS WITH NEED, DONT NEED OR SHOULD. 6. The weather will be fine this weekend. We ________ go on a
1. Remember you ___________________ MUSTa HAVE + you
tent if camping. (A LOGICALpicnic.
PASTgoPARTICIPLE CONCLUSION about an event in the past)

2. You ___________________buy any milk. I've already bought some. Alan must have MODAL
got up very
7. You ________early this stay
morning.
on your own so late at night. It's
3. You _________say sorry to your mum, MIGHTyou /havent
MAY HAVE + PAST
behaved PARTICIPLE (A GUESS about something which happened in the past)
properly. PERFECTS extremely dangerous.
4. You ________________do the washing up. I'll do it later. They might / may8.haveYou bought a new house.
____________________come if you don't feel like it.
5. We______________ pay for the tickets, COULD HAVE + PAST
they are free.PARTICIPLE (ABILITY 9. TO DO SOMETHING IN THE PAST, not done in the end)
Anna said she was coming after work so she____________
6. If you want to pass all your exams, you ______________study You couldhard.
have spokenbe to here
him about
by six.it.
CAN T HAVE +
7. You __________ go and visit you grandpa. Hell be happy to see you.PAST PARTICIPLE ( A CERTAINTY that something
10. I__________ be at DID NOT HAPPEN)
the meeting at 4:00. I wont be on time.
He couldnt have 11. known about the problem.
While hiking in Alaska, you __________keep an eye out for
SHOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (ADVICE which was not followed in the past or UNFULFILLED EXPECTATIONS
6. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITH THE CORRECT bears. If you see one, you______________ approach it.
MODAL (POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE) He should have listened12. I to me and he would havetopassed
_______________go work tomorrow because it is
CAN COULD MAY MIGHT MUST T HAVE + PAST
SHOULDNSHOULD HAVEPARTICIPLE
TO (CRITICISM after an The
event)
Memorial Day. best thing about a day off from work is
1. I have travelled a lot and I _____________ speak many You shouldnt have gone
languages. outIwithout
that a coat. Its freezing
_____________get up at 6:00;
2. I understand you perfectly. You ________________to say it again.
WRITE THE
3. They havent decidedCORRECT
where to FORM
go onOF THE VERBS
holidays IN BRACKETS
but they_______ USING PERFECT MODALS
go to
Greece. 1. You ________________________________________________(NOT/SHOUT) at me last night I'll never forgive you.
7. MIGHT / MUST / SHOULD / HAVE TO
2. Anne was very upset
4. You___________(not) read inyou didn't
the go to her birthday party.
car. You_____________ get You
sick._____________________________________(TO GO)
1. Yesterday, I ___________cram all day for my French final. I
3. No one's answering the phone. They _______________________________________________out.
5. She______(not) eat so much chocolate if she wants to keep in good (TO GO)
didn't get to sleep until after midnight.
shape. 4. The lights are on. They ________________________________________________________ (ALREADY/ARRIVE)
2. We had better call Tony to see if he's at home before we go
5. We ______________________________________
6. I ______________ hear you. Speak louder, please. you to the party if we had known you were in town. (TO INVITE)
over to his house. He _____________be there and we
6. Ifthan
7. It's later I had gone shopping
I thought. with you, I'm sure before
I ______________go I ________________________________
it gets dark. something. (TO BUY)
don't want to drive all the way over there for nothing.
9. Talk to7. me.
I __________________________________________
I'm sure I________________ help you. to travel more when I was younger. (TO LOVE)
3. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had
10. You 8. You ________________________________________
______________ (not) do the ironing, Anne has already donetoit.the pub previously on Saturday. We had a great time. (TO COME)
worked with Sam, I told my boss that he
9. She ___________________________________________
11. You ____________be very tired because you have worked very hard. her mind. I'm not sure. (to change)
_______take another look at his resume.
10 You _________________________________________so
12. Paul __________come to my birthday party because he is in hospital.much money on CDs. You already have too many (NOT/SPEND)
4. You ______worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either
11. If I had gone on go
13. You_______________ holidays
to the to New Zealand,
dentist when you_______________________________________
have a toothache. (NOT/COME) to work this week.
you get the job, or you don't. If you don't, just apply for
12. Anna agreed to meet us at the cinema
14. You _____________(not) do it now. You ________ do it tomorrow.but she wasnt there. She_______________________________________(WAIT) for us.
another one
13. It _________________________________
15. __________________you speak any European language? (BE) Sam who called this morning and didn't leave a message on the answering machine.
5. I would love to go on the cruise to Tahiti with Robin and
14. know
16. I don't If I had
yet gone
but Iwith my friends to Jamaica,
_____________go to LondonI _________________________________________(TAKE)
this weekend. scuba diving lessons
Michelle. But such a luxurious trip__________ cost a
15. The
17. Smoking machine
is bad for you ______________________________(TURN
health. You ________________ give it up. ON) by pushing this button.
fortune.
16. Her
19. You have goteyes
plentywere so redYou
of time. and__________________(not)
swollen. She ________________________________________(CRY)
hurry. 6. Nate: Oh no! I completely forgot we were supposed to pick
17. If she was crying, she
20. You _____________have _______________________________(HAVE)
a passport to visit some foreign countries. a very good reason.
Jenny up at the airport, Barbara: She ________still be
18. This
21. He speaks painting
a lot ______________________________(NOT/PAINT)
of languages but he __________(not) speak Chinese. by Monet. It could be a forgery.
there waiting for us.
19. Oh no! Ann's wallet is lying on
22. It _____________________rain. the
Its coffee
very table. She ____________________________________(LEAVE) it here last night
cloudy. 7. Ingrid received a scholarship to Yale University, which will
20. I dont know where the book is. Peter _____________________________________(PUT) it somewhere, Im sure.
cover 100% of the tuition. She ___________ worry at all
21. You_____________________________________(SAY) that to her. She was really annoyed.
about the increasing cost of education.
8. FILL22.
THE Sarah:
GAPSLookWITH at HAD/'D
these flowers
BETTER - they're beautiful!
OR WOULD/'D Who could
RATHER . have sent them? Anne: It _____________________________(BE) David.
8. When I was a child my grandmother was continually correcting
1. It's getting dark.
He's the You__________________
only one who would send you flowers. go back now.
our manners. She always used to say, "One _______eat with
2. A: Can
23.IJenny's
borrow your dress? B:
engagement ringYou_______________ not!
is enormous! It ______________________________________________ (COST) a fortune.
one's mouth open." "One _________rest one's elbows on
3. A: Can
24.IAnns
inviteflight
my friends? B: I_________________
from Paris took more than 11 hours.you didn't.
She___________________________________(BE) exhausted after such a long flight.
the table." I've redone this math problem at least twenty
4. You 25.
know,If I______________
I had gone with my friendsyou didn't smoke
to the in front
Caribe, of the kids.
I___________________________________________(BE) sunbathing right now
times, but my answer is wrong according to the answer key.
5. You___________________
26. There is no electricity. put on your coat; Its showing now
Something__________________________________________(BE) damaged during the storm.
The answer in the book ______________be wrong!
7. We___________
27. If you had you work didn't come
harder, home so late.
you__________________________________________________(GET) better results.
8. You 28.
__________________finish
Six in the morning and nobody the home.
project on _______________________________________(SET
The time. UP) for their journey very early
29. Ted: I don't know why Denise started crying when I mentioned the wedding.
Pamela: It __________________________(BE) what you said about her brother. Or, perhaps she is just nervous.
EXERCISE 1. COULDNT / MIGHT NOT
1. When you were a child, you could swim from here to the little
island in the middle of the river, (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) you?
At least, that's what your father told me.
2. She (COULDN'T/ MIGHT NOT) possibly be the winner of the
talent show! The other acts were much better than hers.
3. Frank and Sarah (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) get tickets to the
concert. The concert was sold out a little over an hour after
tickets went on sale.
4. I heard that band is really popular, and tickets sell out quickly.
You (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) get tickets if you wait too long.
5. That concert has been sold out for weeks. You
(COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) get tickets even if you knew the band
personally. It's impossible!
6. It (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) be a bad idea to get a car alarm
for your new sports car. New cars tend to attract thieves.
7. That (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) possibly be Mr. Jones. He's
lost so much weight that he looks like a completely different
person.
8. You (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) do the job if you didn't speak
Arabic fluently.
9. Jane and Bill (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) have gotten the
invitation to the party. Perhaps, that's why they didn't show up.
10. I (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) have left my keys at Simon's
house. I wouldn't have been able to drive home if I had done that.
They must be somewhere here in the apartment. Let's keep
looking.

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